The Roasters’ Guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) last weekend placed three coffees from Ka’u among the top 10 judged, earning them the coveted title Coffee of the Year for 2012. Winners from Hawaii are Will and
The Roasters’ Guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) last weekend placed three coffees from Ka‘u among the top 10 judged, earning them the coveted title Coffee of the Year for 2012. Winners from Hawaii are Will and Grace Tabios of The Rising Sun, Lorie Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian, and Francis and Trinidad Marques of Alii Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee.
More than 250 coffee samples representing 26 countries vied in the annual competition to be recognized as the best specialty coffees from around the globe.
The coffees and the growers will be celebrated at the SCAA’s annual Expo in Portland, Ore., April 18-22 and again at the fourth annual Ka‘u Coffee Festival in Pahala May 5-6 and May 12-13.
A panel of experienced coffee cupping judges blindly evaluated the sensory attributes of each coffee to determine objective scores for fragrance and aroma, taste, flavor, acidity, aftertaste and body. A composite of those scores was tabulated to determine the ranking, said an SCAA spokesman.
Ka‘u coffees earned Coffee of the Year honors in 2011 and 2010, and were ranked in the top 10 five out of the last six years.
This is the third time the Tabioses has scored in the top 10, placing seventh in 2007 and earning a Coffee of the Year award in 2010.
“I’m so glad that Ka‘u won again,” said Will Tabios. “It’s the farm and the processing that makes good quality coffee. All Ka‘u coffee is good coffee. I’m just trying to do my best.”
“This is a special day at Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee,” said Obra. “It was my late husband Rusty’s vision that Ka‘u would become one of the world’s top coffee-producing origins. Seeing three Ka‘u coffees among the Coffees of the Year winners continues to keep his legacy and vision alive. This victory is for Rusty, for Ka‘u, for Hawaii and the USA.”
Marques sees it another way: “It’s the spiritual connection to the aina (land). As Hawaiians, the aina and nature speak to us. I knew one day we would make it. It feels great to see the results of our perseverance.”
“I’m again so pleased and proud of all the Ka‘u growers,” said island festival organizer Chris Manfredi of Ka‘u Farm and Ranch Co. “Their dedication, combined passion and willingness to work together make Ka‘u a very special place and Ka‘u coffee exceptional. I’m honored to be working with them.”
Find more competition and ranking info at the SCAA website, http://www.scaa.org.
